Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-03-25
was probably all right, and assuredly nc


Cora came in, and tossing her racket
against the first support she found for
it, drew a chair near my table and sat
down.
The silence that ensued caused me to
look up in surprise. Miss Weatherley
was staring out at the trees.
"Well''' l observed. "What has hap
pened? What is the matter?'
She promised the specific answer by
saying that she did not feel WELL
"You probably imbibed a little star
light last night. When did Father
Ketcham close up and send Mr. Whitney
homer
"Oh, that's all right?" she exclaimed
impatiently. Zone can do those things
here!'
do you refer to the atmospheric
freedom from dampness and malaria or
! to the rural freedom from implo-
priety?"
Both" she replied promptly.
"Oh. l did not know that. where a
Irritation was concerned, you troubled
yourself about the former consideration
at all.
No, the excitement keeps one from
taking cold, she said. with perfect gray
ity, still staring out of the window.
l burst out laughing.
Nov, please don't laugh" she said,
relaxing the seriousness of her own face.
Il came to you because | have gotten
into a tight corner, and because | want
you to help me out"
"Oh, indeed! that is usually the time
one seeks out one S friends. | believe
"Nou can be as sarcastic as YOU
choose if you will only do what | want
you to do
"Well, what is it: Have you been
going little too far with Mr.. Whitney?
Do you want to draw yourself out of the
affair.""
That is it precisely!' she cried with
great animation. You always see
through things clearly when you take the
pains. Ellen! The fact is | am afraid
that-the fellow is getting a little too
fond of me. Mind you, l have never en-
couraged him.
"Oh. You have never encouraged
him."
Now, don't be dull.' she cried petu-
lantly. "Eou understand what | mean
perfectly well. have never encouraged
him to think | might-well, marry him;
l have never gone SO far as that. And
have never said a outright-to
make him think that was really fond of
him in any way. One can be Just as cir
cumspect as that, you know and still flirt
like-like everything" she concluded,
simply.
ooh, can one? Don't say you know.
/ Ill -,
/ have already confessed complete ignor-
ance Of the entire modus operandi of fir
tatiOn.
well, you know enough to see that
there are some girls who lrt in the most
horrid. vulgar way imaginaLle; cores
ponding with man. and languishing at
him, and letting him squeeze their hand.
and all that. And that there are others
who ilirt but who never. never permit any
thing of that kind. The whole-er''-
performance, suggested.
Consists in shadings-in tinesse-in
intangibiities.
"Intangibilities is excellent.
And | can assure you that that is the
sort of Irritation which is truly artistic.
The other is a base and gross counter
felt
"What is the trouble with your truly
artistic work. then, may | inquire!'
1T has been too artistic, she returned.
1T has gone too deep; at least. | repeat.
| am afraid so. Now. you see. Ellen,
cannot have Mr.. Whitney following me
coming to see me in town. He makes
no secret Of it that he has no fortune at
all, and that being the case the people at
home would absolutely not hear of his
having any-well, intentions. Papa has
said a hundred times that he doesn' t
want a poor son-in-law: as for mamma,
she told me every day since | was out of
short frocks not, as | valued my happi-
ness, to marry poor man. for it did not
pay; which, by the way, | always
thought rather hard on papa, for he's
poor enough, heaven knows. Kate has
threatened latterly to paint cards and
things for some exchange. he has kept us
so short in money for gloves and those
necessaries. But to come back to what
| was saying; 1t would not suit me at
all to marry poor man. Accordingly.
wish to begin 10 draw a line-to dig in
trenchments. And here is where YOU can
help me; by happening around, Just in a
casual way, you know, when he comes
over.
That is a very agreeable little plan
you are laying out for me. One which /
shall enjoy immensely, and Mr.. Whitney,
too
Nov, Ellen dear, you know you
would do that much for a friend. I'm
sure | would do as much for you at any
time
That, my dear Cora, is the safest offer
you ever made in your life. -
But you will oblige me and-a-hang
about little, won't you, Elem
"Oh, yes; though why should l my.
self do not know
The little maneuver projected by Miss
Weatherley was duly carried into some
sort of effect. But, though scantilv versed
in the weather indications of these senti-
mental attitudes, it occurred to me in the
course of few days that the young lady's
uneasiness might possibly have been Just
a little premature; in other words, that
the interruptions She planned for me to
execute were rather superfuous; that, as